Sony has recently announced a significant change for some PS5 games ported to PC, making PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts optional. This decision comes into effect following the release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s PC port on January 30, 2025. Games such as Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, and the upcoming The Last of Us Part II Remastered in April 2025 will no longer require a PSN account to play on PC. However, other titles like Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut and Until Dawn still mandate a PSN account for their PC versions.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 And Other Games No Longer Require PSN Accounts To Play On PC

In a move to enhance player experience, Sony has decided to make PSN accounts optional for select PS5 games ported to PC. This change, detailed in a recent PlayStation.Blog post, aims to broaden accessibility for PC gamers without the need for a PSN account.

Incentives For Players With PSN Accounts

Despite the optional nature of PSN accounts, Sony is offering incentives to encourage players to sign in. Those who choose to log in with their PSN accounts can enjoy additional benefits such as trophies and friend management, along with exclusive in-game bonuses:

• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 - Early unlock suits: the Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit and the Miles Morales 2099 Suit
• God of War Ragnarok - Gain access to the Armor of the Black Bear set for Kratos at the first Lost Items chest in the Realm Between Realms (previously only accessible in a New Game+ run) and a resource bundle (500 Hacksilver and 250 XP)
• The Last of Us Part II Remastered - +50 points to activate bonus features and unlock extras, Jordan’s Jacket from Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet as a skin for Ellie
• Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered - Gain access to Nora Valiant outfit

Sony also hinted at potential future incentives, stating that "Game creators at PlayStation Studios will continue to work on bringing more benefits to players who sign up for a PlayStation Network account."

Sony Received Backlash For Forcing Players To Have A PSN Account

The decision to make PSN accounts optional follows significant backlash Sony faced in 2024. The requirement for Helldivers 2 players on Steam to link a PSN account for "safety and security" led to its delisting in over 170+ countries without PSN support. After widespread criticism and negative reviews, Sony reversed this decision within three days, admitting they are "still learning what is best for PC players."

Similar criticism was directed at the PC port of God of War Ragnarok in 2024, with users voicing their discontent on its Steam page. Sony has yet to clarify why PSN accounts are necessary for their single-player games, especially given that PSN is only available in approximately 70+ countries. This leaves players in unsupported regions needing to create accounts in supported regions, raising concerns about privacy and data security, particularly in light of Sony's past data breaches.